By: Valentine Adese (JP),
It all started as a rumour that, the Plateau State Government under the leadership of the incumbent Governor, Right Hon. Simon Lalong, would be putting together, the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA).
To many of us, who have not managed health and had never come in close contact with many citizens, who were passing through the problems of “Out of Pocket Health Care Expenses”, we never took time to appreciate the ideal of the scheme.
The scheme however, was established and it took huge efforts of the Director General (DG) to make it run with the aid of other volunteers.
For weeks and months, the D-G, Dr. Jemchang Fabong, with his able staff, took time to promote the scheme and making people like me, a Journalist, Media owner and Manager to understand and propagate the benefit(s) of keying into the scheme.
To encourage us as Journalists in Plateau State to participate in the scheme, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and the DG, Dr. Jemchang Fabong, paid the Premium of over 50 Journalists in the state.
Well, I now live to tell the story!
It all started like a joke, when I decided to go for a general check up in my hospital, Chilas Specialist Hospital in Jos, Plateau State under the scheme, after the Presidential and Governorship elections that took place in Nigeria, this year.
During the checks, it was discovered that, I am having a developing case of Catarracts in my Right Eye and I needed to be referred to another hospital.
Smooth and easy, I was referred to Bingham University Teaching Hospital by the Doctor in Chilas. On getting to Bingham, the process and the referral letter were acknowledged and adequate administrative attention were give to them and I was now a patient of Bingham.
Knowing that I am a Journalist and my Eyes were key professional human tools, the Eye Clinic staff in Bingham, made the process of seeing the Eye Specialist in the unit immediately I got their attention.
I was reprimand and schooled by the Matron and other staff of the clinic to have failed to check on my eyes even when I know it was very important to my job. They advised that I should know that, “without the eyes, the body is not existing”.
I am sure you understand that, without PLASCHEMA, I would not have known this practical fact to date!
I was schedule for an operation with others, however, it was in the course of preparing for the operation that I came to known that there were many Health Insurance Schemes and PLASCHEMA, was operating to fill the gap others have missed or failed to cover.
Apart from the smooth nature of the referral process, the task of clearance at the Insurance Unit demanded humility, as the staffs were over loaded with work, top most with PLASCHEMA beneficiaries, of which I am ONE.
I must state here that, all the information concerning “not spending from one’s pocket throughout the process and paying only 10% of the cost of drugs” is a fact. I AM NOW A LIVING WITNESS!
I have gone through the operation and in the last three (3) weeks, I have been observing the rules and directives of the Doctor and Nurses.
I had my checks yesterday, 26th April, 2023 and the Nurses, especially the Matron were happy with my sight development. I am also happy!
I have resumed duty at my desk in REALITY NEWSPAPERS as I write.
I must therefore use this opportunity to thank the Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, the DG, PLASCHEMA, Dr. Fabong, for this health scheme.
I also want to thank the entire Staff of PLASCHEMA, the Medical Staff and Nurses of Bingham, my Family and Friends, who were so concerned. I really appreciate!!
To others, kindly key into this program, you will never regret your steps. It is actually a life and cost saver!!
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